Magnolias Budding Stars Of Spring

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - After months of bundling up against the bitter cold, one of the best things about the beginning of spring is taking off all those layers. For people it's heavy coats, for doggies it'€™s time to drop some fur, and plenty of plants peel off their winter wear to get ready for spring too.

Many magnolia trees start taking off their sweaters about now, like the popular Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) which will soon be covered with hundreds of white blooms for spring.

In winter, those fragile flower buds are protected under fuzzy covers so soft and thick, they almost look like wool. That covering helps shelter them from freezing temperatures as well as hungry deer who tend not to eat fuzzy stuff.

Our recent warmer weather encouraged these buds to open a bit and let their flower buds begin to peek out. But they have to be careful of a cold snap, because they can'€™t pull their sweaters back on like we can and, once exposed, those flower buds can easily be lost to the frost.